Tempe, Ariz. — The New Mexico Lobos had a promising opening half but a pair of touchdowns sandwiched around halftime put the Sun Devils up 17-0 and they went on the outlast UNM 34-10 in the first road game of the season for New Mexico.
The Lobos (1-2) held defensively on its opening two drives with a pair of 3-and-outs, allowing just two yards of offense. UNM offensively was able to pick up first downs but not get into scoring range. The Sun Devils had the only score in the first 29 minutes on a Zane Gonzalez 22-yard field goal. UNM held on that drive that saw ASU (2-1) have first and goal at the 1-yard line.
UNM drove down into scoring range behind Austin Apodoca for a shot at a tying 35-yard field goal, but it was pushed wide right by Jason Sanders. ASU then went 80 yards in eight plays and scored on a 14-yard pass with 37 seconds left to take a 10-0 lead into the half.
The Sun Devil then got the opening second half kick and drove 66 yards in five plays and went up 17-0 on a 33-yard pass.
UNM answered with a career-long 65-yard touchdown up the gut by Tyrone Owens. After ASU answered with a touchdown of its own, Sanders atoned for his earlier miss with a 32-yard field goal to make it 24-10.
A huge swing came in the fourth when it looked like UNM had a safety after Mike Bercovici on heavy pressure from Garrett Hughes threw a ball into the turf at his 3-yard line, but the play was ruled to have gone beyond the line of scrimmage. ASU hurried to the line and Bercovici scrambled and hit Demario Richard for a 93-yard TD on what amounted to a broken play to make it 31-10.
UNM, after an ASU field goal, drove into scoring territory, but Apodoca was intercepted in the end zone on a pass intended for Reece White. Each team punted once after that and ASU took a knee at its own 4-yard line to end the game. Overall, UNM was outgained 449-296. The Lobo defense, which allowed 600 yards the week before to Tulsa, had five three-and-outs and twice held ASU to field goals in the red zone.
UNM opens conference play with Wyoming next Saturday in Laramie at 1 p.m. on ROOT Sports.
NOTES
This was the 30th meeting between the two teams.
Arizona State now leads 24-5-1
Arizona State now leads 13-1-1 in Tempe
Arizona State has won 19 straight in the series
Arizona State has won 10 straight in Tempe
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: RT-Dillon Romine for Garrett Adcock.
Defense: RC-Donnie Duncan for Isaiah “I.B.” Brown.
Regulars that missed the game for UNM: I.B. Brown (CB) and Garrett Adcock (OL)
Team Notes
*New Mexico converted a fourth-and-one in the first half to improve to 5-for-7 (74%) on the season on fourth down.
*New Mexico registed 40 tackles on the night, all solos.
*The 10-0 score was the lowest halftime score since UNM trailed 3-0 at the end of the half at UTSA last October 4.
*The Lobos held ASU to two touchdowns on four red zone trips, making UNM 4-12 (33%) for the season on red zone touchdown defense.
*The Lobos had 140 yards, 90 rushing, 50 passing at the half
*The Lobos recovered a fumbled punt for the second time this season, turning it into a field goal. It was UNM’s fourth score on five takeaways this season.
*New Mexico looked to close to within 24-12 when ASU’s Mike Bercovici threw a ball away that was deemed to have gone beyond the line of scrimmage, but instead on the next play a scrambling Bercovici scrambled and hit a 93-yard touchdown pass, a tie for the third-longest TD pass in Arizona State history.
Individual Notes:
*Donnie Duncan made his first career defensive start, going at cornerback. His only other start was on November 5, 2011 when he started at receiver at San Diego State. He started in place of Cranston Jones, who has the most starts of any current Lobo with 26. Duncan finished with five tackles, one for a loss and a pass break-up.
*Dillon Romine made his first career start for UNM, at right tackle in place of Garrett Adcock. He is the third different right tackle to start a game this season (Aaron Jenkins, Adcock, and Romine).
*Tyone Owens scored UNM’s first points on a 65-yard touchdown run, his longest career rush and his third career touchdown. It was his first touch of the game. The run was UNM’s longest of the season, besting the 64-yard touchdown run by Daryl Chestnut in the opener against Mississippi Valley State.
*Jason Sanders’ 33-yard field goal was the longest of his career.
*Maurice Daniels recorded his first career sack. It came on 2nd-and-3 late in the third quarter and helped spot a drive.
*Dameon Gamblin led UNM is catches (4) and yards (54) for the third straight game. Gamblin now has 15 catches for 230 yards on the season. Last year Jeric Magnant led the team with 16 catches and Tyler Duncan led the team with 293 yards.